Cartons



c. G. LEMON Jan. 7, 1964 CARTONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1962 C. G.LEMON Jan. 7 1964 CARTONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1962 Jan. 7,1964 c. s. LEMON 3,116,351

CARTONS I Filed March 5, 1962 4 sheets -sh et s C. G. LEMON Jan. 7, 1964CARTONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 5, 1962 United States Patent3,116,851 CARTONS Cecil G. Lemon, North Vancouver, British Columbia,Canada, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Unipalr Overseas Ltd,Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Filed Mar. 5, 1962, 'Ser. No.177,274 Claims priority, application Canada Dec. 6, 1951 2 Claims. (til.220-405) This invention relates to cartons of the type incorporating anextensible handle.

It is known to form open-topped cartons or carriers from a one-pieceblank whereby mutually cooperating longitudinal and transversepartitions, secured to the wall structure of the carton, are provided soas to divide the interior of the carton into a pair of adjacent rows ofarticle receiving compartments. Moreover, it is also known to providesuch a type carton with an extensible carrying handle which directlycooperates with the longitudinal partition so as to limit the amount ofupward movement of said handle member. However, due to the choice ofdesigns of such cartons, each end of each row of compartments has beenprovided with an end wall panel, making a total of four such panels, andthis has considerably added to the production and assembly costs.Moreover, and with these types of designs of cartons, it has beenimpossible integrally to connect the lower edge of each end wall panelwith the adjacent end edge of the bottom thereby giving greater rigidityto the entire wall structure of the carton.

This disadvantage was then overcome by United States Patent No. Re.24,789 which provided a carton having a top closure integral with a wallstructure, with an interior assembly of mutually transverse partitions,defining a plurality of article receiving compartments, wherein one ofthe partitions includes a handle portion and is movable between a firstretracted position in which the handle portion lies beneath the topclosure and a second 0 erative position where the handle portionprojects above the wall structure, and wherein at least one other of thepartitions limits the amount of movement of the handle partition member.However, in the specific form of the invention illustrated in theaforesaid United States Patent No. Re. 24,789, seven components wererequired to form the carton, i.e. a blank for forming the wallstructure, a blank for forming the combined handle member andlongitudinal partition, and five blanks for forming the transversepartition members. Moreover, the five transverse partitions requiredindividual positioning with respect to the handle member and the wallstructure when forming a knockdown carton.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to reduce thepositioning of the components forming the interior assembly to aminimum.

According to one aspect, the present invention relates to a carton ofthe type having a wall structure including a pair of mutually opposedside walls each having a pair of vertical edges, 21 pair of mutuallyopposed end walls each having a pair of vertical edges; each of saidlatter edges being connected to an associated one of said vertical edgesof said side panels; and a bottom; said carton including an interiorassembly defining article receiving cornpartments within said carton,said assembly including at least a pair of mutually transverse partitionmembers a selected one of which includes a handle portion, said selectedpartition member being movable between a first retracted position inwhich said handle portion is located within said wall structure and asecond operative position in which said handle portion projects abovesaid wall structure, the other of said partition members being normal tosaid selected partition member and being integrally and hingedlyconnected, at each end thereof, to an adice jacent wall of a selectedsaid pair thereof and cooperating with said selected partition member tolimit the amount of movement of said handle portion outward of said wallstructure; said partition members cooperating with one another to form apair of adjacent rows of article receiving compartments.

According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a cartonof the type having a wall structure including a pair of mutually opposedside walls each having a pair of vertical edges, a pair of mutuallyopposed end walls each having a pair of vertical edges; each of saidlatter edges being connected to an associated one of said vertical edgesof said side panels; and a bottom; said carton including a top closureintegral with said wall structure and an interior assembly definingarticle receiving compartments within said carton, said assemblyincluding at least a pair of mutually transverse partition members aselected one of which includes a handle portion, said selected partitionmember being movable between a first retracted position in which saidhandle portion is located beneath said top closure and a secondoperative position in which said handle portion projects above said topclosure, the other of said partition members being normal to saidselected partition member and being integrally and hingedly connected,at each end thereof, to an adjacent wall of a selected said pair thereofand cooperating with said selected partition member to limit the amountof movement of said handle portion outward of said wall structure andabove said top closure; said partition members cooperating with oneanother to form a pair of adjacent rows of article receivingcompartments.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a one-piece blank adapted to form the wallstructure and integral partitions of a carton having a first type ofinterior assembly;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a one-piece blank adapted to form the handlemember of the type of carton formed by the blank of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the combined blanks showing one stage in theassembly of the carton;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional elevation of the carton showing the handlemember in its first retracted position;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 but showing the handle member inits second operative position;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective View of the first type of carton;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing a one-piece blankadapted to form a carton having a second type of interior assembly;

FIGURE 8 is a similar view to FIGURE 5 but showing the second type ofinterior assembly; and

FIGURE 9 is a similar view to FIGURE 6 but showing the second type ofinterior assembly.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIGURE 1, it will beseen that a first one-piece blank of resilient material is cut andscored to provide a plurality of portions comprising a pair of side wallprimary panels 1, 2 and a pair of end wall primary panels 3, 4, sidewall panel 2 being provided with a hingeable tab 5 integrally connectedthereto along a common score line 6, the obverse face (not shown) ofsaid tab 5 being coated with pressure sensitive adhesive, preferablyemployed throughout the construction of the carton, as is a strip 7 ofend wall panel 4.

Each of the side wall panels 1, 2 is provided with a top closure sideflap 8 preferably recessed at 9 and provided with a hingeable finger tabit as well as with a bottom closure side flap 11. Each of the end wallpanels 3, 4 is provided with a top closure end flap 12 and a bottomclosure end flap 13.

As will be seen from FIGURE 1, side wall panel 1 is scored and incisedto provide a plurality of arcuate secondary panels indicated generallyat 14, each integrally and hingedly connected to said side wall panel 1by means of score lines 15, the Width w of each of said panels 14 beingsubstantially equal to half of the required width of said carton.Moreover, the depth d of one end of each of said panels 14 is greaterthan the depth d of the remaining end thereof.

Side wall panel 2 is also provided with a corresponding plurality ofarcuate secondary panels 16 each integrally and hingedly connected tosaid side wall panel 2 by means of score lines 17. However, the arcuatepanels 16 differ from the arcuate panels 14 in that they are eachprovided with a projecting tongue 18 on one end thereof, one face ofeach of said tongues being coated with pressure sensitive adhesive as isa corresponding area 19 on each of the arcuate panels 14.

It will be noted that the depth d of one end of each of the arcuatesecondary panels 16 is the same as the depth d of arcuate panels 14 andthat the depth d of the tongues 18 is the same as the depth d of thearcuate panels 14. However, it will be observed that the width w of eachof the arcuate panels 16 is greater than the width w of the arcuatepanels 14 and, hence, is greater than half of the required width of thecarton.

The second one-piece blank shown in FIGURE 2 is adapted to form thecombined handle and partition member and has a main body portion 20having a reduced carrying portion 21 having a hand-hole 22. A commonscore line 23 connects the reduced carrying portion 21 with astrengthening panel 24 also provided with a handhole 25 corresponding tohand-hole 22, and a score line 26 integrally connects a pair ofsub-panels 27 to the main body portion 20. As will be seen fromreference to FIG- URE 2, the upper side of strengthening panel 24, thereduced carrying portion 21, the sub-panels 27 and a portion of the mainbody 20 corresponding to the depth of each sub-panel 27, is coated withpressure sensitive adhesive. The main body portion 20 is provided with aplurality of vertical slots 28 each of a depth less than the depth d andgreater than the depth d respectively, of the arcuate panels 14 and 16.

Accordingly, to form the combined handle and partition member, it ismerely necessary to fold the strengthening panel 24 along score line 23so that its coated surface is in registry with the coated surface of thereduced carrying portion 21, and to fold the sub-panels 27 along thescore lines 26 so that the coated surface thereof is brought intoregistry with the coated portion of the main body 20. Pressure is thenapplied to the blank to bring about adhesion between the components.

In forming a knock-down carton, the onepiece blank shown in FIGURE 1 anddescribed above, is positioned as is shown in FIGURE 3 with the freeends of the arcuate panel members 14 slightly elevated from thehorizontal plane of the side wall panel 1. The combined handle andpartition member is then placed over the arcuate panel members 14 sothat the free end of each of the latter will project through anassociated one of the vertical slots 28 with the coated surface 19 ofeach of said free ends facing upwardly.

The side wall panel 2 is then folded along common score line 29 so thatit will partially overlie side wall panel 1 as well as entirely overlieend wall panel 3. It will be appreciated, although it has not beenillustrated, that in the latter position, the coated surface of eachtongue 18 of the arcuate panel members 16 will overlie and be inregistry with the coated portions 19 of the arcuate panel members 14.Finally, end wall portion 4 is folded along the common score line 30,integrally and hingedly connecting said end wall panel 4 with theadjacent side wall panel 1, whereby the coated strip 7 on the end wallpanel 4 will be brought into registry with the coated surface of the tab5. Pressure is then brought to bear to bring about adhesion between thecomponents.

To assemble a carton for filling purposes, a knock-down carton iserected and the bottom closure flaps 11, 13 closed and sealed with glue,tape, or by means of staples, in known manner.

After the carton has been filled with the desired contents, the topclosure flaps 8, 12 are folded down and sealed in a similar manner tothat described above in connection with the bottom closure.

When the carton is erected, due to the adhesion existing between eacharcuate panel member 14 with the opposite arcuate panel member 16, saidpanel members will, respectively, hinge about the score lines 15 and 17and will thus swing inwardly from and normal to their associated andrespective side wall panels 1, 2. Thus, each adhesively secured pair ofarcuate panel members 14, 16 will form a transverse partition extendingfrom one side wall of the carton to the other, and the mid-portion,formed by the inner terminal end of the coated area 19 of panel 14 andthe juncture of the tongue 18 with the remainder of panel 16, will besubstantially located in an associated slot 28 in the combined handleand partition member, as is shown in FIGURE 4, with the upper edge ofsaid slot in contact with and supported by said mid-portion.

Thus, the combined handle and partition member will extend substantiallyalong the central longitudinal axis of the carton so that the main bodyportion 29 will serve as a longitudinal partition, located in a firstretracted position in which the handle portion will be located withinthe wall structure constituted by the side walls, end walls and bottom,and beneath the top closure.

To carry a filled carton with the top closure undisturbed, it is merelynecessary to bend the finger tabs 10 inwardly, grasp the upper edge ofthe handle portion which is located immediately below the recess 9, andpull upwardly. Thus, the combined handle and longitudinal partition Willmove upwardly and assume a second operative position where the handleportion projects above the wall structure and the top closure forcarrying purposes. As will be seen from reference to FIGURES 5 and 6,further outward or upward movement of the combined handle member andpartition is prevented due to the bottom of the slots 28 contacting theunderside of the mid-portion of each transverse partition.

As will be seen from FIGURES 4 to 6, due to the choice of design, thearcuate panel members 14 and 16 will, respectively, each provide anupper portion 14a and 16a and a lower portion 14b and 16b so as toprovide protection between similar portions of articles in adjacentcompartments of the same row thereof.

Turning now to FIGURES 7 to 9, an alternative embodiment of theinvention is shown and, insofar as possible, similar reference numeralsto those employed in connection with the first embodiment of theinvention shown in FIGURES 1 to 6.

In the one-piece blank shown in FIGURE 7, the side wall panel 1 is cutand scored to provide a plurality of substantially rectangular panelmembers 14 and side wall panel 2 is similarly treated to provide aplurality of similarly shaped panel members 16 each provided with aprojecting tongue 18 on its free end. As in the case of the firstembodiment, the depth d of one end of each panel 14, 16 is greater thanthe depth d of the opposite or free end thereof.

The width w of each of the panels 14 is substantially equal to half ofthe required width of the carton whereas the overall width w of each ofthe panels 16 is greater than half of the required width of the carton.

The assembling of a knock-down carton of the second embodiment of theinvention is identical to that described above in connection withFIGURES 1 to 6. In other words, a combined handle and partition membersimilar to that shown in FIGURE 2, is placed downwardly upon theleft-hand half of the one-piece blank shown in FIG- URE 7 with the freeand slightly upturned ends of panels 14 projecting through the slots 28in the handle member. Side wall panel 2 is then bent along score line 29to bring the coated face of each tongue 18 of the panel members 16 intoregistry with the coated area 19 of an associated panel member 14.Finally, end wall panel 4 is folded along score line 30 to bring thecoated strip 7 into registry with the coated face of the hingeable taband pressure is then applied to the entire assembly to effect thenecessary cohesion between the components.

When a knock-down carton is erected, as will be seen from FIGURES 8 and9, each secured pair of panel members 14 and 16 will serve as atransverse partition integrally and hingedly connected at one endthereof to the side wall 1 by means of a score line and similarlyconnected, by means of a score line 17, to the remaining side wall panel2. Moreover, as will be clearly seen from FIGURE 8, the depth of eachend of each transverse partition is greater than its mid-portion and thecombined handle and partition member is again limited in the amount ofits upward or outward movement, due to the lower end of each slot 28abutting the underedge of the reduced midportion of an associatedtransverse partition.

In either embodiment of the invention, the depth of the slots 28 in thecombined handle and partition member is less than the overall depth dbut is sufficient to allow said combined member the required amount ofupward or outward projection. In this way, the combined handle andpartition member is always maintained in substantial alignment with thecentral longitudinal axis of the carton thereby providing ease offilling of the carton and alignment with the recess 9 in the top closureif the latter is provided.

Although both forms of the invention have been shown as being applied toa carton having a top closure, it is obviously within the scope of theinvention to omit said top closure and apply the invention to anopen-topped carton.

As will be seen from FIGURES 1 and 7, each of the side walls 1, 2 willhave a pair of vertical edges as will the end walls 3, 4. Each verticaledge of each end wall will thus be integrally connected to an associatedone of the vertical edges of the side walls and, in each of theillustrated embodiments of the invention, the selected pair of walls towhich the partition members 14, 16 are integrally connected at theirouter ends, is constituted by the side walls 1, 2.

I claim:

1. A carton of the type having a wall structure including a pair ofmutually opposed side walls each having a pair of vertical edges, a pairof mutually opposed end walls each having a pair of vertical edges; eachof said latter edges being connected to an associated one of saidvertical edges of said side panels; and a bottom; said carton includingan interior assembly defining article receiving compartments within saidcarton, said assembly including at least a pair of mutually transversepartition members a selected one of which includes a vertical slot andhandle portion, said selected partition member being movable between afirst retracted position in which said handle portion is located withinsaid wall structure and a second operative position in which said handleportion projects above said wall structure; the other of said partitionmembers being normal to said selected partition member and beingconstituted by a pair of panel members each integrally and hingedlyconnected, at one end thereof, to an adjacent wall of a selected saidpair thereof and secured together, adjacent each other end thereof, toone another in parallel face-to-face contact, each said one end of eachsaid panel member having a depth greater than the depth of each saidother end; the depth of said vertical slot being less than the overalldepth of said one other partition member; said one other partitionmember passing through said vertical slot in said selected partitionmember to limit the amount of movement of said handle portion outward ofsaid wall structure; said partition members cooperating with one anotherto form a pair of adjacent rows of article receiving compartments.

2. A carton according to claim 1 wherein each panel member adjacent saidone end is constituted by a pair of upper and lower portions disposed ina common vertical plane.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.24,789 Pasjack Mar. 8, 1960 2,318,957 Morris May 11, 1943 2,900,106Vesak Aug. 18, 1959

1. A CARTON OF THE TYPE HAVING A WALL STRUCTURE INCLUDING A PAIR OFMUTUALLY OPPOSED SIDE WALLS EACH HAVING A PAIR OF VERTICAL EDGES, A PAIROF MUTUALLY OPPOSED END WALLS EACH HAVING A PAIR OF VERTICAL EDGES; EACHOF SAID LATTER EDGES BEING CONNECTED TO AN ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAIDVERTICAL EDGES OF SAID SIDE PANELS; AND A BOTTOM; SAID CARTON INCLUDINGAN INTERIOR ASSEMBLY DEFINING ARTICLE RECEIVING COMPARTMENTS WITHIN SAIDCARTON, SAID ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AT LEAST A PAIR OF MUTUALLY TRANSVERSEPARTITION MEMBERS A SELECTED ONE OF WHICH INCLUDES A VERTICAL SLOT ANDHANDLE PORTION, SAID SELECTED PARTITION MEMBER BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN AFIRST RETRACTED POSITION IN WHICH SAID HANDLE PORTION IS LOCATED WITHINSAID WALL STRUCTURE AND A SECOND OPERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH SAID HANDLEPORTION PROJECTS ABOVE SAID WALL STRUCTURE; THE OTHER OF SAID PARTITIONMEMBERS BEING NORMAL TO SAID SELECTED PARTITION MEMBER AND BEINGCONSTITUTED BY A PAIR OF PANEL MEMBERS EACH INTEGRALLY AND HINGEDLYCONNECTED, AT ONE END THEREOF, TO AN ADJACENT WALL OF A SELECTED SAIDPAIR THEREOF AND SECURED TOGETHER, ADJACENT EACH OTHER END THEREOF, TOONE ANOTHER IN PARALLEL FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT, EACH SAID ONE END OF EACHSAID PANEL MEMBER HAVING A DEPTH GREATER THAN THE DEPTH OF EACH SAIDOTHER END; THE DEPTH OF SAID VERTICAL SLOT BEING LESS THAN THE OVERALLDEPTH OF SAID ONE OTHER PARTITION MEMBER; SAID ONE OTHER PARTITIONMEMBER PASSING THROUGH SAID VERTICAL SLOT IN SAID SELECTED PARTITIONMEMBER TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLE PORTION OUTWARD OFSAID WALL STRUCTURE; SAID PARTITION MEMBERS COOPERATING WITH ONE ANOTHERTO FORM A PAIR OF ADJACENT ROWS OF ARTICLE RECEIVING COMPARTMENTS.